Ribbon assembly for gas burners



July 31, 1962 J. H. FLYNN RIBBON ASSEMBLY FOR GAS BURNERS Filed NOV. l2,1959 IN VENTOR. t70/7/2 H FZ 72 Him/@y United States Patent O 3,947,056RBBN ASSEBQLY FR GAS BURNEES John H. Flynn, 234 Eik Ave., New Rochelle,NX. Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 356,326 3 Claims. (Cl. 158 116) Thisinvention relates to ribbon-type gas burners in general, and to ribbonassemblies for gas burners in particular.

The flame ports provided by ribbon assemblies in the burner slots orgrooves in the casings of burners of this type are usually spaced veryclosely from each other and are of quite small individualcross-sectional areas for producing ecient llames, and more particularlyuniform flame sheets for most intended llame applications. To this end,the individual ribbons are rather slender in any event, and they haveregularly recurring lateral port formations which dimensionwise arequite shallow and short so that only accurate alignment and fullcomplement with each other of port formations of adjacent ribbons in thesame assembly will result in gas ports of suthciently identicalcross-sectional areas andshapes to produce uniform individual flamesand, hence, an always desired even llame sheet thereat. However,adjacent ribbons in these assemblies invariably gap apart here and theresufficiently to keep opposite port formations thereat out of fullcomplement with each other despite intermesh of port formations ofadjacent ribbons wherever the port pattern permits this and despite theusual joinder of the ribbons at spaced places by crosspins or spot weldsthereat. The reason therefor lies in the inevitable tolerances in theshapes and dimensions of the recurring lateral port formations of theindividual ribbons which prevents normal gapless joinder throughout ofadjacent ribbons in the iirst place, and non-yieldability of theseribbons into uniform gapless joinder with each other throughout underthe compression against each other within the limits imposed by therequirement that the ribbon assembly may be slid or driven with relativeease and without port distortion into burner slots or grooves. Hence,gas ports of varying cross-sectional areas and even varying shapes arethe order, rather than the exception, in mounted ribbon assemblies, withensuing uneven individual flames lthereat that may, and often will,adversely affect the desired evenness of the flame sheet throughout.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide aribbon assembly of most any desired port pattern of which adjacentribbons, despite their inevitable tolerances in size land shape of theirport formations, are joined to each other uniformly throughout andwithout any gaps between them and with their opposite port formations in`accurate alignment and full complement with each other, and with theassembly being, furthermore, insertable into a burner slot or groovedirectly from the top thereof with relative ease and without any portVdistortion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbonassembly of this type which, besides being A insertable into a burnerslot or groove with relative ease as aforementioned, is removabletherefrom with comparative ease for replacement of the ribbon assemblyor for occasional thorough cleaning `of the same.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a ribbonassembly of this type in which the assembled ribbons yare held'betweenside plates which form part of the ribbon assembly, and the latter ismounted in a burner casing by forcibly, yet facilely, driving the samewith its side plates into atting machined slot or groove therein andlocking the side plates to the casing, with the individual ribbons andside plates having lock formations wherewith they are releasablyinterloclred ice with each other and the entire ribbon assembly thussecurely locked to the burner casing when mounted therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon assemblyof this type in which the lock formations on the aforementioned sideplates thereof are 1ongitudinal grooves therein which receive the lock`formations on the adjacent outermost ribbons therebetween in releasableinterlock therewith and also with freedom to give way longitudinally ofthe respective grooves to differential expansion and contraction of theassembled ribbons.

-A further object of the present invention is to provide a ribbonassembly of this type in which the aforementioned lock formations on theribbons are simple identical blister-like parts thereof formed by sideimpressions therein to provide tapering locking detents on one side aswell as like tapering locking depressions on the other side, withlocking detents on the ribbons being iirmly wedged and seated in lockingdepressions in adjacent ribbons and locking detents on the outermostribbons received in the longitudinal grooves in the side plates forsecure interlock of the assembled ribbons with each other and with theside plates with freedom of the detents in the plate grooves to expandand contract with the assembled ribbons.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide `a ribbonassembly of this type in which the side plates thereof `are of sucientheiUht not only to Vform the eifective burner slot or groove for theassembled ribbons, but also for temporary application thereto of a clampor clamps in order securely to hold the entire assembly together `andpermit at the same time forced insertion of the latter into itsreception slot or groove in the burner casing with relative ease and toa sufficient depth therein at which the clamps will be removed `and thereception slot or groove assume the same secure hold on the assembly forits complete insertion therein with continued relative ease. alsoentirely feasible to apply to the assembled ribbons safe clampingpressures which are not only far in excess of those to which assembledribbons may be subjected when directly driven into and received inburner slots `or grooves in burner casings without distortion of theirports, but which may be of suilicient magnitude greatly to reduce, i-fnot prevent, local gapping between adjacent ribbons.

Other objects and vadvantages will appear to those vskilled in the artfrom the following, considered in con- PIG. 1 is a fragmentary View of aburner with a ribbon assembly embodying the present invention;

' FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section through the burner taken substantiallyon the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the burner taken onthe line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FlGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections through the burner taken on thelines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FlGS. 1 and 2thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a burner having alongitudinal casing 12 with the usual gas chamber 14 and a gas admissionport or ports thereto (not shown). The instant burner is of the type inwhich a large multiplicity of individual llames combine to form alongitudinal ame sheet for utility purposes. To this end, the burner isprovided with burner ribbons 16 which are assembled side-by-side in anarray or unit 1S to form gas ports 20 according to a desiredpredetermined pattern. The ribbon unit 18 is located in the presentinstance in a longitudinal burner slot 22 in the casing 12 With thisarrangement, it is which at its bottom 24 is in open communication withthe chamber ll'throughout and at its top 26 is open to the outside ofthe casing 12.

The individual ribbons 16 of therunit 18 are presently identicaldimensionwise and shapewise, each being sinuous in yshape and havingregularly recurring alternating curved formations 28 and 30' on oppositesides thereof (FIGS. land 3). These ribbons 16 are, furthermore,so'coordinated in theunit 18Vthat their curved formationsl;A and 30define in the present instance main ports 32V and pilot portsV 34, theoutermost ribbons `16 and 15 of the unit 18 furthermore defining in theburner slot 22 auxiliary main ports 32'; As best shown in FIG. 3, themain ports 32 are presently formed by complementalaligned curvedformations of adjacent ribbons 16, While the pilot ports 34 arepreisentlyformed by complemental curved formations of'arnurnber ofintermeshed ribbons 16. The main ports 32and 32', being of largerindividual cross-sectional areas than'the pilot ports 34, receive fromthe chamber 14 combustible gas at greater volumetric iow rate than thepilot ports to produce individual main flames which combine into alongitudinal ame sheet of considerable height and drive, while the gaspassing through the smaller pilot ports S-'iproduces smaller pilotllames which support the main ames, all as well known.; Y

In accordance With an important aspect of the present invention, theburner slot Z2 is formed, not in the burner Vcasing 12, but rather byopposite side plates '33 which are received in amachined groove 40 inthe burner casing and between which the ribbon Aunit 18V is interposed.YThe bottom 42 of the groove itis at 44 interrupted throughout itslongitudinal extent to provide thereat open commuj nication between thechamber 14 and groove 4G, leavingY thegroove bottom 42 with oppositespaced shoulders 46 on Which the side plates 38 are seated in thisinstance.

The ribbon unit 1-8 and side plates 38 Vtogether form aribbon assemblywhich may be assembled outside the burner casing 12 and then insertedinto the casing Vgroove 4t?. In accordance with another important aspectof the present invention, theparts of the ribbon assemblyV 50, namelythe individual ribbons V16 and the side plates 38, are interlocked witheach other in a manner permitting insertion of the assembly 50 withV itsinterlocked parts into the casing groove 49 on the one hand, andpreventing removal of any ribbon 16 from the` assembly 50 when f thesame is installed in the casing groove 44B on the other hand. To thisend, all ribbons 16 and also both side plates 38 have properlycoordinated interlock formations.

Thus, almost all of the interlock formations on the individual ribbons16 are in this instance identical impressed blister-like parts 52thereof Within the widthWise continesV w of the ribbons, with each lockpart S2 Vin each ribbon providing a tapering detent S4k and a liketapering depression 56 on opposite sides ofthe ribbonl stock. With theindividual ribbons 16`of ,the unit 18 being in this instance shapedand*dimensionedidentically as, aforementioned, and withthe look partsSZpreferably impressed simultaneously with the formation of the individualribbons 16 and also in identical arrangement thereon, the detents 54 anddepressions V56v of the lock parts 52 on all ribbons presently projectfrom the-outside and are provided on the inside, respectively, ofthealternating curved'ribbon formations 28, with regularly recurring lockparts onrall ribbons presently occurring on each fourth successivecurved formation 28 of each ribbon. Accordingly, the intermeshedribbonsV 16 which deiinevthe pilot ports 34 are arranged in the samerelation to each other with-theregularly recurring detents 54 onsuccessive ones of these ribbons being iuterlocked with the regularlyrecurring depressions 56 in the next ribbons and with the interlocksbetween Vthese ribbons'gregularly recurring at eachfourth successiveintermeshed curved formations 28 thereof` (FIGS. 3 and 4). 'The end oroutermost ribbon 16 on one side of the` burner slot'22 is simplyinverted with respect to the adjacent ribbon 16a in order to formtherewith the main ports 32 thereat, the ribbon 16 being interlockedwith its regular lock parts S2 with the Vadjacent-side plate 38 (FlG.3). However, the ribbons 16 and 16a are for their mutual interlockslightly modified from the other ribbons, the ribbon 16a having to thisend additional regularly recurring lock parts 52 which interlock withequally regularly recurring apertures '60 in the ribbon 16' (FIGS. 3 and5).

The other end or outermost ribbon 16, which is complemental with theadjacent ribbon 16h in forming the other main ports 32, may be exactlylike the modied yribbon-16 and is simply inverted with respect to thelatter` y(F9113) for its interlock with :the adjacent normal ribbon 16hand for-its furtherinterlook With its regular lock parts 52 with theadjacent side plate 3S (see aIsoFIG. 5

The interlock formations on the side plates 33 are presentlylongitudinal slots 62 therein into which project the regular lock parts52 on theV adjacent outermost ribbons 16 and 16 with freedom to expandand contract with the ribbon unit 18 relative to the side plates.

To get the ribbon assembly 5 0 together outside-of the y casing groove40, the ribbons 16 are arranged and muy tually interlocked to form theunit-15 with the exemplary port arrangement shown best in FIG. 3,thelock parts of the individual ribbons being in sidewise-releasableinterlock with the lock parts of the adjacentribbons so that the ribbonsmay be held in their assembled andinter-l locked-relation from opposite4sides of the unit. The ribbons thus assembled andfinterlocked'maybeheld together by a few longitudinally spaced spotwelds or in anyotherv suitable manner, whereupon the side plates 38 are' applied vtothe opposite sides-of the ribbon-unit 18 With the lock parts 52 on theoutermost ribbons'in interlock with the which Ithe ribbon unit issubjected on its drive-directly into yand installation in .a burner'slotor groove in a burner casing. As already mentioned, the reason thereforlies in the inadequacy of the compression of such ribbon unit to closethese gaps, the compression of the ribbon unit being controlled `andlimited by the requirement that no port distortion must occur on itsdrive directly into a burner slot or groove. However, theV presentribbon assembly 50 permits much higher compression of its ribbon unit`18 which may be, and in Vmost cases is, fully adequate to preventany'local gapping between `adjacent ribbons thereof, yet lgives no riseto port distortion. This is due to the provision of the side platesv 38in the first place, and the positive interlock of theV ribbons `16 witheach other 4and `also with the sideplatesA 38in the second place. Thus,the side plates 38 may, outside the casing groove 40, exert on theinterposed ribbon unit 18 pressure of a magnitude which is fullyadequate to force Athe ribbons into full and gapless sideby-sideengagement with each other throughout despite.

their aforementioned tolerances in shape and dimensions,

yet avoid any port distortion, because in applyingthis pressure there isno consideration of limiting it for direct.

drive of the ribbon unit into a burnerV slot lor grooveat which portdistortion primarily occurs at even much lower ribbon compression. Theside plates 38 may to this end be pressed and held pressed against theinterposed ribbon Y unit with the required force outside, of the casinggroove 46 by a clamp or` clamps, as aforementioned, which areY suitablyapplied near the top of therribbonassembly 50 to permit its `forced`drive into the casing groove 40, presently through the top thereof, toa sucient depth therein at which the casing groove will assume thesecure hold of the ribbon assembly substantially at its initially givencompression after the clamps must be removed for the remainder of thedrive of the ribbon Iassembly into the casing groove. For the transferof the compression of the ribbon assembly 50 from the temporary clampsthereon to the casing groove 49 in this fashion, the opposite planesidewalls 66 of this groove are preferably parallel to each other andthe side plates 38 are flat and of uniform thickness throughout.

The ribbon unit 18 is preferably spaced somewhat inwardly from the topsof the side plates 38, as shown, so that on the forced drive of theribbon assembly 50 into the casing groove 40 the entire driving force isapplied against the side plates widthwise thereof. In consequence, theribbons 16 are on the drive of the ribbon assembly 50 into the casinggroove 40 subjected to no driving force whatsoever, but merely remaincompressed 'by and between the side plates 38, wherefore the ribbons areentirely unaffected by their installation in the burner casing. Tofacilitate the safe and secure drive of the ribbon assembly Si) into thecasing groove 40, the side plates 3S are preferably of greater widththan the vribbon unit 18 so that the side plates extend considerablybelow the ribbon unit therebetween (FIG. 2). Temporary clamps may thusbe applied to the side plates 38 `at places safely within the widthwisecontines of the interposed ribbon unit 18 without interfering with thedrive of the ribbon assembly 5@ into the casing groove 40 to a ydepth atwhich the latter will securely hold the assembly under compression whenthe temporary clamps have to be removed for the remainder of the driveof the ribbon assembly into the casing groove. On installation of theribbon assembly 50 in the casing groove 40 the former may, andpreferably is, locked in the latter despite its presst therein. To thisend, the heads 63 of screws 74? in the burner casing I12 overlap theside plates 38 and thus releasably lock the ribbon -assembly 50 in thecasing groove 40.

Positive interlock with each other of the individual ribbons 16 of theunit 18 is advantageous in that the port pattern defined by the ribbonsis preserved in any event, and even more securely than by spotweldingthe ribbons at even closer intervals than is usually done if spotweldingis resorted to for this purpose. Also, positive interlock of the ribbonswith each other is far preferable to pinning the ribbons together, forpins will obstruct the ports which they cross and `adversely affect theame sheet pattern thereat, whereas the present interlocks between theribbons in no wise obstruct the ports thereat. Furthermore, the lockformations of the present ribbons, being readily impressed at regularlyrecurring intervals in the ribbon stock while the same is continuouslyformed into ribbon shape, may at the same low cost be spaced as closelyor widely apart as is best suited for accurately holding any particularport pattern of any particular ribbon unit. In this connection, the lockformations on the present ribbons may be spaced differently, and evenment with each other regardless of whether the ports are formed byintermeshed port formations or inverted port formations of adjacentribbons.

The interlock of the ribbon unit i8 with the side plates 38 is, ofcourse, imperative for secure retention of the ribbon unit in the burnercasing through intermediation of Vthese side plates. In this connection,the interlock of `the ribbon unit with the side plates in the presentfashion is not only preferable to pinning them together at a few widelyspaced places because it avoids objectionable port obstruction by pins,but the interlocks between the ribbon unit and side plates may be spacedas closely or widely as the interlocks between the ribbons themselvesfor optimum use of identical ribbons with identical lock formations inany unit, yet the ribbon unit has freedom to expand and contractindependently of the side plates `despite its interlock therewith.

The present ribbon assembly may also be removed from the casing groove44) as readily as it is installed therein. Thus, while ribbon unitsdriven directly into burner slots or grooves in burner Casin-gs canhardly be removed therefrom without extensive `damage that preventstheir further use, the present ribbon assembly may be removed from thecasing groove by prying only the side plates 32 and without touching theinterposed ribbon unit 1S in any way so that the same will remainintact. Various suitable expediencies may be resorted to in order toforce the ribbon assembly 5t) from the casing groove 40, includingwedging the same `from the casing groove from the top thereof throughintermediation of suitable cnossbars temporarily screwed to the sideplates on top thereof and applying temporary clamps to the assembly `onpartial removal from the casing groove `for its complete removaltherefrom. Once removed from the casing groove, the ribbon assembly 50may be taken apart for thorough cleaning of all its parts or forreplacement or repair of any part or parts thereof, with the assemblythen being put together again and installed in the casing groove as goodas new.

With the present arrangement of the ribbon assembly 50, the ribbon unit18 is mounted in the burner slot 22 which is provided, not by the burnercasing, but by the side plates 33 of the ribbon assembly, wherefore theburner slot for the ribbon unit -is also removable with the assemblyfrom the casing for ready cleaning or even replacement with new sideplates if need be.

The present invention is in no wise limited to any particular shape orshapes of the burner ribbons of an assembled unit or to the port patterncreated thereby. Also, while the exemplary ribbon assembly 50l isadapted for a flame sheet of which the main flames at the main ports aresupported by pilot ames at pilot ports in one andthe same ribbon unit,the ribbon assembly for the flame sheet may contain only main portssupplied with gas from a burner slot in open communication throughoutwith the gas chamber in the casing, with the main ames of the flamesheet supported by pilot flames at exclusively pilot ports in similarribbon assemblies in casing grooves which flank the casing groovecontaining the main-flame ribbon assembly.

lThe invention may be carried out in other specific Ways than thoseherein set forth Without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming Within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the `appended claims fare intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a burner, the combination with a longitudinal casing having a gaschamber and a machined longitudinal passage with substantially parallel,plane opposite s idewalls and being open inwardly and outwardly to saidchamber and to the outside of the casing, respectively, of a ribbon`assembly in -said passage comprising two flat rigid plates backedagainst said sidewalls and extending widthwise substantially to theoutward opening of said passage and having spaced confronting plane andparallel faces defining a burner slot in said casing, and an assembly ofside-by-side engaged burner ribbons having complemental port formationsand being interposed `between and clamped -sidewise together by saidplates and extending widthwise the widthwise contines of said burnerslot, all ofvsaid ribbons having intermediate their Widthslongitudinally, spaced-identical male and female forma'- tionsfoffwhiohmale and female formations of adjacent ribbonsare sid'e'wiseV releasablyinterlocked, said plates having yirl-their confronting facesintermediate ltheir Widths longitudinal-grooves, respectively, -sidewiselreleasably re- 'ceiving substantially fittingly male formaons ofadjacent ribbons, respectively, to lock lall ribbons to said plates andY permit differential expansion `of theformerland latter,

and said locked plates and ribbons `being as a runitVV forceable at atight it into said passage through the outward opening thereof onyapplying an inward driving force to saidr plates only; and means forreleasably locking saidribbon assembly in said passage.

2. The combination in a burner asset forth in claim'l, in which saidribbons eXtend-Widthwise substantially to theoutward opening-of saidpassage, and said plates are of considerably greater Width than saidribbons so-as to permit partial drive of said ribbon assembly into saidpassage through the outward'ope'ning thereof Whilereleasable clamps areapplied to the outside of theV plates over the `ull Width of theVribbons therebetween.

3. A ribbon assembly Ifor a machined longitudinal Vpassage in a lburnercasing-between a gas chamber therein and the outside thereof, comprisinga subeassernbly of sideby-side engaged longitudinal burner-ribbonsforming Vcomplemental pontv formations Widthwise thereof land havingintermedi-ate their ywidth-sV longitudinally Vspaced identical male,andl female formations ofwhich male'and female formations of adjacentribbons are 'sidevviseire leasably .interlocked, `and'two flatrigidplates fon opposite sides ofvsaidl-ribbon sub-'assembly havingspaced confront-V ing planefaces defining aburner 'slot-and beingladaptedV for clamping engagement with the ribbons of saidsubit into aburner ypassage-throughV the youtward opening thereof -onapplying aninward driving force to 'said plates only. Y n

References Cite-d in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS l791,923 Machlet- June', 1905 1,742,607 Machlet et al. v VJan. 71930`2,210,069 Ensign Aug. 6, 194,()l 2,428,271 fEnsign et yal.- Sept.30,'.1947 2,575,101 Ensign et'al v Nov. 1.3,- 1951 2,652,107 HughesSept. 15, 1953VVV

